Patents by Inventor Fred Mercado
Fred Mercado has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20220387214Abstract: Systems, circuits, and methods to mitigate effects of short-term power losses in medical systems are provided. An exemplary surgical system includes a fluidics subsystem, a surgical instrument subsystem that couples to a surgical instrument and a power supply subsystem coupled to the surgical instrument subsystem. The power supply subsystem includes a main power supply connectable to AC mains to generate a voltage, a power bus connected to the main power supply, an alternate power supply, and a circuit that monitors the voltage on the power bus for powering the surgical instrument subsystem. The circuit automatically connects the power bus to the alternate power supply when the voltage drops below a reference voltage due to a power loss from the main power supply.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2022Publication date: December 8, 2022Inventor: Fred Mercado
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Patent number: 11452635Abstract: Systems, circuits, and methods to mitigate effects of short-term power losses in medical systems are provided. An exemplary surgical system includes a fluidics subsystem, a surgical instrument subsystem that couples to a surgical instrument and a power supply subsystem coupled to the surgical instrument subsystem. The power supply subsystem includes a main power supply connectable to AC mains to generate a voltage, a power bus connected to the main power supply, an alternate power supply, and a circuit that monitors the voltage on the power bus for powering the surgical instrument subsystem. The circuit automatically connects the power bus to the alternate power supply when the voltage drops below a reference voltage due to a power loss from the main power supply.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2019Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventor: Fred Mercado
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Patent number: 10864054Abstract: A foot-operated controller includes a base configured to rest on a floor surface, and a movable contact surface coupled to the base. The contact surface includes an anterior region to support a toe region and a posterior region to support a heel region, and is configured to roll about a roll axis in response to inversion or eversion of a foot engaged with the contact surface, pitch about a pitch axis in response to plantar flexion or dorsiflexion of the foot, and yaw about a yaw axis in response to abduction or adduction of the foot. The roll, pitch, and yaw axes intersect at a point superior to the contact surface, and may align with the operator's ankle.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2017Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Mauricio Jochinsen, Fred Mercado, Lingfeng Yu
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Patent number: 10736700Abstract: A method and system provide a surgical system including a foot pedal and at least one pressure sensor. The foot pedal has a first axis and a second axis. The first axis and the second axis intersect and are oriented at a nonzero angle. The pressure sensor(s) are coupled with the foot pedal. The pressure sensor(s) sense at least one rotation of the foot pedal around the first axis and the second axis. The pressure sensor(s) provide at least one output based on the rotation(s).Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2017Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventor: Fred Mercado
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Publication number: 20200069467Abstract: Systems, circuits, and methods to mitigate effects of short-term power losses in medical systems are provided. An exemplary surgical system includes a fluidics subsystem, a surgical instrument subsystem that couples to a surgical instrument and a power supply subsystem coupled to the surgical instrument subsystem. The power supply subsystem includes a main power supply connectable to AC mains to generate a voltage, a power bus connected to the main power supply, an alternate power supply, and a circuit that monitors the voltage on the power bus for powering the surgical instrument subsystem. The circuit automatically connects the power bus to the alternate power supply when the voltage drops below a reference voltage due to a power loss from the main power supply.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2019Publication date: March 5, 2020Inventor: Fred Mercado
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Patent number: 10517757Abstract: Systems, circuits, and methods to mitigate effects of short-term power losses in medical systems are provided. An exemplary surgical system includes a fluidics subsystem, a surgical instrument subsystem that couples to a surgical instrument and a power supply subsystem coupled to the surgical instrument subsystem. The power supply subsystem includes a main power supply connectable to AC mains to generate a voltage, a power bus connected to the main power supply, an alternate power supply, and a circuit that monitors the voltage on the power bus for powering the surgical instrument subsystem. The circuit automatically connects the power bus to the alternate power supply when the voltage drops below a reference voltage due to a power loss from the main power supply.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2016Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Novartis AGInventor: Fred Mercado
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Publication number: 20180132958Abstract: A foot-operated controller includes a base configured to rest on a floor surface, and a movable contact surface coupled to the base. The contact surface includes an anterior region to support a toe region and a posterior region to support a heel region, and is configured to roll about a roll axis in response to inversion or eversion of a foot engaged with the contact surface, pitch about a pitch axis in response to plantar flexion or dorsiflexion of the foot, and yaw about a yaw axis in response to abduction or adduction of the foot. The roll, pitch, and yaw axes intersect at a point superior to the contact surface, and may align with the operator's ankle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2017Publication date: May 17, 2018Inventors: MAURICIO JOCHINSEN, FRED MERCADO, LINGFENG YU
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Publication number: 20180132948Abstract: A method and system provide a surgical system including a foot pedal and at least one pressure sensor. The foot pedal has a first axis and a second axis. The first axis and the second axis intersect and are oriented at a nonzero angle. The pressure sensor(s) are coupled with the foot pedal. The pressure sensor(s) sense at least one rotation of the foot pedal around the first axis and the second axis. The pressure sensor(s) provide at least one output based on the rotation(s).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2017Publication date: May 17, 2018Inventor: Fred Mercado
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Publication number: 20170290704Abstract: Systems, circuits, and methods to mitigate effects of short-term power losses in medical systems are provided. An exemplary surgical system includes a fluidics subsystem, a surgical instrument subsystem that couples to a surgical instrument and a power supply subsystem coupled to the surgical instrument subsystem. The power supply subsystem includes a main power supply connectable to AC mains to generate a voltage, a power bus connected to the main power supply, an alternate power supply, and a circuit that monitors the voltage on the power bus for powering the surgical instrument subsystem. The circuit automatically connects the power bus to the alternate power supply when the voltage drops below a reference voltage due to a power loss from the main power supply.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2016Publication date: October 12, 2017Inventor: Fred Mercado
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Patent number: 8546979Abstract: Pulse-generator circuits that permit independent control of pulse widths and the delays between successive pulses. In several embodiments, a pulse-generator subcircuit includes a transmission-line segment comprising first and second conductors, configured such that the first conductor is coupled to a first DC potential. The pulse-generator subcircuit further includes a terminating resistor coupled to a first end of the second conductor of the first transmission-line segment; this terminating resistor is matched to the characteristic impedance of the transmission-line segment. The pulse-generator subcircuit further includes first and second switches, controlled by first and second timing signals, respectively, and configured to selectively and independently connect respective first and second ends of the first conductor to a second DC potential.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2010Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.Inventors: Tammo Heeren, Fred Mercado
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Publication number: 20120038222Abstract: Pulse-generator circuits that permit independent control of pulse widths and the delays between successive pulses. In several embodiments, a pulse-generator subcircuit includes a transmission-line segment comprising first and second conductors, configured such that the first conductor is coupled to a first DC potential. The pulse-generator subcircuit further includes a terminating resistor coupled to a first end of the second conductor of the first transmission-line segment; this terminating resistor is matched to the characteristic impedance of the transmission-line segment. The pulse-generator subcircuit further includes first and second switches, controlled by first and second timing signals, respectively, and configured to selectively and independently connect respective first and second ends of the first conductor to a second DC potential.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2010Publication date: February 16, 2012Applicant: ALCON RESEARCH, LTD.Inventors: Tammo Heeren, Fred Mercado
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Publication number: 20110144641Abstract: A high-intensity pulsed electric field (HIPEF) vitrectomy apparatus is disclosed. An exemplary apparatus includes a HIPEF probe comprising at least one electrode disposed at a distal end of the HIPEF probe, such that the distal end is configured for insertion into an eye. Various embodiments include a probe shaft assembled from a modular end segment and one or more additional modular shaft segments, each of the modular end segment and one or more modular shaft segments in turn comprising at least two longitudinal channels adapted to accommodate an electrode unit. In some of these probe shafts, each of the modular end segment and one or more modular shaft segments has a central longitudinal channel, and the probe shaft further comprises an aspiration tube disposed within the central longitudinal channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: ALCON RESEARCH, LTD.Inventors: Ramon Carsola Dimalanta, JR., Tammo Heeren, John Christopher Huculak, Steven W. Kovalcheck, Fred Mercado
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Publication number: 20080183160Abstract: A system and method for hardware limiting the ignition of an ophthalmic illumination source are disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention is an ophthalmic illuminator, comprising: an illumination source having a desired useful lifetime; and an ignition system operable to provide an ignition pulse to ignite the illumination source, wherein the ignition pulse voltage is limited to prevent ignition of the illumination source beyond the desired useful lifetime. The desired useful lifetime of the illumination source can be an arbitrarily selected lifetime that is less than an expected illumination source lifetime based on manufacturer's specifications for the illumination source. The ignition pulse voltage limit can be a threshold voltage, wherein the threshold voltage is a minimum voltage required to ignite the illumination source near the end of the desired useful lifetime.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2008Publication date: July 31, 2008Inventors: Michael Papac, Fred Mercado
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Patent number: 7267637Abstract: An exercise trainer having a first crank arm and a second crank arm respectively connected to a first foot link and a second foot link with foot pedals supported on the foot links, and bearing supports for the foot links removed from the crank arms. A flexible connection connects a ground point, the foot pedals, and the foot links to provide relative movement in a modified ellipse as to the ground point of at least twice the length of each crank arm. A seat is mounted on the trainer having a motor and control for raising and lowering the seat with respect to the foot pedals. The first and second crank arms are connected to a motor for driving the crank arms at a given speed which can supplement a user's effort or provide a load to a user beyond a given speed.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2005Date of Patent: September 11, 2007Assignee: Unisen, Inc.Inventors: Fred Mercado, John C. Rufino, Yong Ming Goh
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Publication number: 20050245358Abstract: An exercise trainer having a first crank arm and a second crank arm respectively connected to a first foot link and a second foot link with foot pedals supported on the foot links, and bearing supports for the foot links removed from the crank arms. A flexible connection connects a ground point, the foot pedals, and the foot links to provide relative movement in a modified ellipse as to the ground point of at least twice the length of each crank arm. A seat is mounted on the trainer having a motor and control for raising and lowering the seat with respect to the foot pedals. The first and second crank arms are connected to a motor for driving the crank arms at a given speed which can supplement a user's effort or provide a load to a user beyond a given speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2005Publication date: November 3, 2005Inventors: Fred Mercado, John Rufino, Yong Goh
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Patent number: 6908416Abstract: An exercise trainer having a first crank arm and a second crank arm respectively connected to a first foot link and a second foot link with foot pedals supported on the foot links, and bearing supports for the foot links removed from the crank arms. A flexible connection connects a ground point, the foot pedals, and the foot links to provide relative movement in a modified ellipse as to the ground point of at least twice the length of each crank arm. A seat is mounted on the trainer having a motor and control for raising and lowering the seat with respect to the foot pedals. The first and second crank arms are connected to a motor for driving the crank arms at a given speed which can supplement a user's effort or provide a load to a user beyond a given speed.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2001Date of Patent: June 21, 2005Assignee: Unisen, Inc.Inventors: Fred Mercado, John C. Rufino, Yong Ming Goh
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Publication number: 20020049122Abstract: An exercise trainer having a first crank arm and a second crank arm respectively connected to a first foot link and a second foot link with foot pedals supported on the foot links, and bearing supports for the foot links removed from the crank arms. A flexible connection connects a ground point, the foot pedals, and the foot links to provide relative movement in a modified ellipse as to the ground point of at least twice the length of each crank arm. A seat is mounted on the trainer having a motor and control for raising and lowering the seat with respect to the foot pedals. The first and second crank arms are connected to a motor for driving the crank arms at a given speed which can supplement a user's effort or provide a load to a user beyond a given speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2001Publication date: April 25, 2002Inventors: Fred Mercado, John C. Rufino, Young Ming Goh